Sawyer 7 Months

Dear Baby Boy,

You're 7 months old! You are mister personality lately. You've started sitting up by yourself, but you've discovered that it's funny to throw yourself backwards and shake your head back and forth (goofball!)
Also, you're a bit more chatty and content to just "chill" on your own. This means you're interested in everything that is not a toy. You know... whisks, paper, spoons, bracelets, bows...whatever floats your boat!  Daddy and I moved your crib to your own room about two weeks ago. The first night, we were a little lonely and kept checking on you, but you slept like a champ.

Weight/Height: Not sure, at your 6 month apt. you were about 20 lbs, woah baby! I don't think you've grown much longer because all of your clothes fit you just the same.

Food Monster

Eating: You eat every 3.5-4 hours or so. Your "schedule" looks something like this (give or take 30 minutes):

6:00: Nurse
9:30: Bottle of milk (between 4-5oz) & breakfast (fruit)
1:00: Bottle of milk & lunch (5oz) & (veggies/fruit)
5:00 Nurse
6:50: Nurse before bedtime
1:00-3:00am (sometime in between then): Nurse

You've tried many new fruits and a few veggies. I've been making your food in big portions and freezing it for later. It's been pretty easy so far!

• Applesauce
• Avocados
• Pumpkin
• Sweet Potato
• Pears
• Oatmeal
• Carrots (still not a fan)
• Banana

I attempted making peas today, but failed miserably... oh well, there's always next time. 

The cutest face to wake up to in the morning

Sleeping at a restaurant booth 

Sleeping: Ha-ha... oh sleep, what is that?! Starting at about 6 months, you started waking up up to 5 times in a night! I don't know what happened because you were only waking up 1 time a night before then. Sometimes, you'd wake up screaming. I didn't know what you wanted...but you seemed to just want to nurse yourself to sleep... so that's what we did. Now, you've been getting back to your old sleeping routine and waking up about once a night...hallelujah!  

You take 2-3 naps a day and will usually put yourself to sleep after wrestling around a bit with your lovey. 

Clothes: You fit in either 9 months or 6-12 months (but the 6-12 are still a bit big on you). 

Rockin' the sweater that was knitted with love from your great grandma 

Likes:

• Baths (which is perfect for when you start get tired and cranky before bed)
• Giving your mama hugs (you put your little arms around me and bury your head into my shoulder, my favorite)
• Being silly with your daddy (as usual)
• Throwing yourself backwards and giggling while shaking your head back and forth (we've been keeping a pillow behind you so you don't hurt your head!)
• Watching your doggies play and trying to grab their fur and/or tails
• Eating fruits and veggies (except carrots)
• Going on walks in the stroller/carrier
• Putting everything in your mouth

Dislikes: 

• Being overtired 
• Carrots
• Sitting anywhere for too long
• Sleeping on your back

You make my heart so full and happy. I love watching you grow everyday and I'm so lucky to be your mama.

xo

We Bought a House!

I've kind of fallen of the bloggin' bandwagon the past few weeks. We have been busy with school, reports, etc. and buying a house!

We weren't actively "looking" to buy, but we always had it on our radar as part of our future plans. Kurt's parents have a lake house in northern Wisconsin (what us Wisconsites refer to as "up north"). We always dreamed of how amazing it would be to live on the same lake as his parents and "boat" on over and dock at their house for visits. We also want our own place to call home so that we can have a "constant" sense of home in Sawyer's life since he is a TCK (third culture kid). And let's be honest, who knows what our future plans entail or where we might end up next...Timbuktu?

I happened to be looking for fun and found our house. We went back and forth emailing the realtor and have spent the last couple of weeks figuring everything out and now we are in the process of finalizing everything. You can imagine how crazy interesting it's been to do it all 7,000 miles away. We are set to close on March 20th... fingers crossed! We are so excited to make "up north" magical memories with Sawyer and can't wait for him to explore nature all summer long.

Family and friends, you are welcome to visit us anytime!! :) My favorite part of the house is the boathouse. We are hoping to turn it into a mini-guest house down the road...or maybe we would just like to camp out there?!

It is overwhelming and exciting planning to furnish a house, considering we don't have much left in the states since we moved to China (good thing it's tiny!). We also have a limited time in the states,  mid June-early August. I have so many ideas filling my head and started pinning some inspiration to help me stay focused. We are definitely going to start by ripping out the old carpeting and painting.

A few of the yard & back of the house from the lake

A view off the dock (boathouse on the left)

Some decoration inspiration:

Vacay in Vietnam

Over Chinese New Year, we packed our bags and headed to Vietnam for the week with our friends Frank, Kristin, and their sweet pea, Lennon. 

We stayed in Ho Chi Minh for two nights and then headed to Hoi An for the remainder of the break, where we also met Kurt's parents. 

We loved it so much, we're already planning on our next trip back! 

In Hoi An, we stayed in a seaside fishing village outside of town.

 It was magical.

 I honestly felt like we were on a movie set, or at Epcot... except, it was real life, which made it surreal!  Everyone had such unique houses. I loved that the villagers kept their doors and windows open, so nosy people like me can peek in. Everyone in the village was extremely sweet and friendly. 

On a daily basis, strangers would run up to Sawyer and talk to him, gently tug on him, offer to hold him, and even kiss him! There was so much life in the village. We were there during the  Vietnamese New Year holiday, Tet, so it was fun to see all of the celebrating that took place... Even the "karaoke" down the road from our villa (aka speakers blaring the same man chanting for hours on end)

Poor Sawyer got an icky cough near the end of our trip, so it put us out of commission for a couple of days. We ended up taking him to a clinic about 30 minutes away to make sure it wasn't anything serious. Happy to report that he is back to his normal goofy self :)

A dragon dance outside of our hotel in Ho Chi Minh

At the Vietnam War Museum, this definitely made my heart heavy.

A local market down the road from our villa in Hoi An

Veggie Vendors

The road leading to our villa 

Sawyer was mesmerized by the ocean 

Dinner at a restaurant that gets the veggies fresh from their beautiful garden (behind us)

Loved the style of houses, beautiful woodwork and colors

Downtown Hoi An 

Temple with Kurt's parents

Incense burning in a beer can

Water buffalo (picture via my mother in-law). 

...Until we meet again Vietnam!